Domestic violence and faith communities. The impact of spirituality on women of faith in abusive relationships

Transcription

1 Domestic violence and faith communities The impact of spirituality on women of faith in abusive relationships

2 American Public Health Association 133 rd Annual Meeting Marciana L. Popescu Sharon Gillespie Rene Drumm Duane McBride Jan Wrenn December 10-14, 2005 PHILADELPHIA

3 Methodology Victimization survey distributed to the population of a conservative Christian denomination (Seventh-Day Adventist Church) 2 sub-samples: 7 churches in the Midwest region of the USA The student population of a Christian university, from the same conservative Christian denomination

4 Methodology Distribution methods: Churches: brief presentation of survey/distributed before main religious service. Collected in locked boxes at the end of the service, or mailed-in (self-addressed stamped envelopes provided) Students large classes/mailed to student dorms, and on-campus family apartments. Selfaddressed envelopes provided. 551 completed surveys have been returned.

5 Sample characteristics Women: 53% females; Men: 47% Age distribution predominantly young population 18-25: 46% 26-35: 21% 36-45: 15% 46-55: 10% 56-65: 5% 66-75: 3%

6 Sample Characteristics: Marital status predominantly single student population Married: 35% Single: 55% Divorced: 4% Living with a partner: 4% Separated: 1% Widowed: 1%

7 Sample characteristics Income levels: Income ranges Percentages: None 8% Under $10,000 15% $10,000-$20,000 14% $20,001-$40,000 21% $40,001-$60,000 16% $60,001-$100,000 17% Over $100,000 8%

8 Sample characteristics Ethnicity: Ethnicity Percentages: African-American 17% Asian 11% Caucasian 48% Hispanic 11% Other 13%

9 Abuse categories Controlling and Demeaning Behavior Escalating Violence Sexual Victimization Victimization rates Specific survey items Told you what to do and expected obedience Made big family and household decisions without consulting you Limited your involvement with others Monitored your daily activities Ignored or discounted your accomplishments Was extremely jealous or accused you of having an affair Exhibited a general contempt for your gender Insulted, swore at you, or called you names Destroyed property or cherished possessions Threatened to hit or throw something at you Threw, smashed hit, or kicked something to frighten you Pushed, grabbed, or shoved you Used pornographic materials Used sexually degrading language towards or about you Used you sexually against your will Persuaded you to do something sexually that you consider a perversion Raped you Percentages 51% 30% 18%

10 Victimization rates Abuse categories Specific survey items Percentages Resource Deprivation and Leveraging the Children Severe Physical Abuse Did not let you have access to family/personal income Restricted your use of the car Prevented you from getting or keeping a job/education Deprived you of heat, food, or sleep Threatened to take the children away from you Threatened to abuse your children Abused your children or pets to punish you Threatened to used a weapon on you Used a weapon on you Beat you up 15% 7%

11 Spirituality versus religiosity Spiritual wellness: Pray together Worship together Go to church together Go to same church Meditate together Worship with children Religiosity: Church attendance Self-report measure of religious conservatism

12 Stepwise regression Independent variables: Spiritual wellness items Religiosity items Income/Family Economic Situation Significant findings: Going to church together strong deterrent for escalating violence behaviors and for severe physical abuse Conservatism in practicing the doctrines of the church significant predictor for severe physical abuse Attending same church strong deterrent for sexual abuse.

13 Spirituality and Escalating Violence Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. 1 (Constant) B Std. Error Beta Go to church together

14 Spirituality and Severe Physical Abuse Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. B Std. Error Beta 1 (Constant) Go to church together Practice the doctrines of your church

15 Spirituality and Sexual Abuse Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. 1 (Constant) Go to the same church as partner B Std. Error Beta

16 Domestic violence health effects: depression Feelings/perceived state Percentages Worn out/tired 81% Avoided thinking about difficulties 48% Sad, blue, down 43% Life out of control 42% Unable to prepare meals 12% Wished to die 12%

17 Domestic violence health effects: Feelings/perceived state spiritual life Affected personal devotion 42% Affected Christian witness 26% Decreased church activities 25% Affected church attendance 20% Distrust in God 20% Affected paying tithe and 13% offering Felt betrayed by pastor/church 12% Percentages

18 Other effects of intimate partner abuse on health Traumatic stress: Felt nervous: 54% Experienced unwanted dreams: 14% Risk behaviors/aggravating factors: self spouse Use of alcohol: 15% 9% Use of illegal drugs: 4% 1%

19 Spirituality and health effects Method: Multiple regression (stepwise) using spiritual wellness items and religiosity items; as well as age, witnessing violence during childhood, and income. Main finding: it is mostly religiosity that predicts the extent of health effects victims of domestic violence in faith communities, rather than spirituality/spiritual wellness. Only one aspect of depression is significantly deterred by spiritual wellness avoiding to think of current problems.

20 Spirituality and health effects The more liberal people are more likely to experience a deterioration of their spiritual life as a direct result of the abuse. Higher impact on discouraging church attendance, and decreasing participation in church activities. More liberal people tend to experience depression, feeling life out of control.

21 Spirituality and health effects Church attendance is a deterrent for risk behaviors use of alcohol Church attendance is increasing the effects of abuse on personal devotion (weakening personal devotion)

22 Coping - using the faith community as a support system Prayed about it 93% Percentage of use Perceived effectiveness 68% Talked about it with a church member Went to see the pastor 42% 30% 18% 13%

23 Coping risk behaviors Percentage of use Overate/ate too little 35% 3% Considered/attempted 21% --- suicide Violently struck back 18% 2% Drank alcohol 16% 1% Used tranquilizers/drugs 15% 3% Perceived effectiveness

24 Is spirituality or religiosity a predictor for specific coping behaviors? Model Unstandardized Coefficients Standardized Coefficients t Sig. (Constant) Practice the doctrines of your church B Std. Error Beta Dependent Variable: Reach Out Coping Behaviors

25 Conclusions Spirituality and spiritual wellness are significant deterrents of abuse in faith communities: Going to church together is a strong deterrent for escalating violence behavioral items and for severe physical abuse; Going to the same church as partner will limit sexual abuse in conservative protestant families. Conservatism is a predictor for severe physical abuse.

26 Conclusions Religiosity explains more of the immediate health effects of domestic violence on victims in faith communities For people that consider themselves liberal in practicing the doctrines of the church, their spiritual practices will be more affected by abuse. More liberal practices of religion will add to the immediate effect of abuse leading to depression. Church attendance decreases the risk for negative behaviors (use of alcohol), but it does aggravate the effects of abuse on spiritual health (personal devotions)

27 Conclusions Women that are more liberal in their practice of religion will tend to reach out to friends, pastor, people in the church or people in their immediate support system. Spiritual solutions are sought perceived effectiveness of these solutions remain low.

28 Conclusions In understanding faith communities, we need to understand the role of spirituality and religiosity in these communities. FURTHER RESEARCH QUESTION: What are some of the positive aspects of spirituality/faith in dealing with family crises?

29 Conclusions Spiritual wellness and/or conservative religious practices are not enough to protect Christians from domestic violence. FURTHER RESEARCH QUESTION: What elements of spiritual wellness are effective in decreasing abusive behaviors for men in conservative faith communities?

30 Conclusions Toxic religion/spirituality is seemingly aggravating intimate partner violence, also weakening the support system provided by the faith community FURTHER RESEARCH QUESTION: What are the elements of toxic religion/spirituality that can be considered risk factors from a public health perspective?

31 Conclusions Spiritual solutions are preferred, but there is a need for new responses that will increase their perceived effectiveness. FURTHER RESEARCH QUESTION: What elements in the faith communities can contribute to an increased effectiveness of their response to domestic violence?